Magnetic Stud Finding and Laser Marking Device

Abstract

A stud finding apparatus is described comprising of an improved magnetic mounting configuration that enables the stud finding device to be used in unique ways that improve the overall functionality and performance of the stud finder device and enables the device to perform the functions of several common tools, provides a new method to locate the exact center of studs and the exact center of fasteners much more quickly and accurately, and provides the ability to firmly mount the device to the wall even while including the weight of additional features such as electronic functionality, an adjustable laser, and an integrated distance finder.

1 . A device comprising:
 a. a housing having top, bottom, and side walls, the bottom wall having a substantially planar bottom surface;   b. two dipole magnets forming a compound pair of magnets disposed in the bottom surface;   c. a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the barrel pivotally mounted near its proximal end to the device housing for pivotal movement in relation to the housing; and   d. a laser disposed within the barrel, the laser creating, when activated, a laser beam projecting through the distal end of the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a stop disposed in the device housing positioned to stop the pivoting of the barrel at a predefined position such that when activated, the laser beam intersects a plane defined by the planar bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the laser beam intersects the plane defined by the planar bottom surface at a predetermined distance from the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the predetermined distance is between 15 and 17 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The device as in any of  claims 1-4  wherein the laser beam is selected from the group consisting of a cross beam, a line beam, and a dot beam. 
     
     
         6 . The device as in any of  claims 1-4  further comprising a first bubble level secured to the housing, the first bubble level having a centerline parallel the bottom housing surface and parallel to one of the housing side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising a second bubble level secured to the housing orthogonally to the first bubble level. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the laser beam is selected from the group consisting of a cross beam, a line beam, and a dot beam. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the laser beam is selected from the group consisting of a cross beam, a line beam, and a dot beam. 
     
     
         10 . A device comprising:
 a. a housing having top, bottom, and side walls, the bottom wall having a substantially planar bottom surface;   b. two dipole magnets forming a compound pair of magnets disposed in the bottom surface;   c. a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the barrel pivotally mounted near its proximal end to the device housing for pivotal movement in relation to the housing;   d. a laser disposed within the barrel, the laser creating, when activated, a laser beam projecting through the distal end of the barrel;   e. a sensor disposed in the device housing; and   f. a circuit operatively connected to the sensor for processing an output of the sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  where the sensor is a differential capacitive stud sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  where the sensor is a live electrical wire sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  where the sensor is an electronic distance sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  where the sensor is an accelerometer with at least one sensing axis. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a digital display disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the circuit for displaying the output of the sensor as processed by the circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The device as in any of  claims 10-15  wherein the laser beam is selected from the group consisting of a cross beam, a line beam, and a dot beam. 
     
     
         17 . The device as in any of  claims 10-15  further comprising a first bubble level secured to the housing, the first bubble level having a centerline parallel the bottom housing surface and parallel to one of the housing side walls. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a second bubble level secured to the housing orthogonally to the first bubble level. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a stop disposed in the device housing positioned to stop the pivoting of the barrel at a predefined position such that when activated, the laser beam intersects a plane defined by the planar bottom surface. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the laser beam intersects the plane defined by the planar bottom surface at a predetermined distance from the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  where in the predetermined distance is between 15 and 17 inches. 
     
     
         22 . The device as in any of  claims 19-21  wherein the laser beam is selected from the group consisting of a cross beam, a line beam, and a dot beam. 
     
     
         23 . The device as in any of  1 - 4  or  10 - 15  or  19 - 21  further comprising a metal plate disposed at a side the compound pair of magnets opposite the bottom surface. 
     
     
         24 . A device comprising:
 a. a housing having top, bottom, and side walls, the bottom wall having a substantially planar bottom surface; and   b. a pair of dipole magnets forming a compound pair of magnets, the compound pair of magnets having a first side disposed in the bottom surface and a second side opposite the first side.   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  further comprising a metal plate disposed at the second side of the compound pair of magnets. 
     
     
         26 . A device comprising:
 a. a housing having top, bottom, and side walls, the bottom wall having a substantially planar bottom surface.   b. a pair of dipole magnets forming a compound pair of magnets, the compound pair of magnets having a first side disposed in the bottom surface and a second side opposite the first side.   c. a sensor disposed in the device housing; and   d. a circuit operatively connected to the sensor for processing an output of the sensor.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26  where the sensor is a differential capacitive stud sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26  where the sensor is a live electrical wire sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26  where the sensor is an electronic distance sensor. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 26  where the sensor is an accelerometer that may be capable of inclination sensing on one or more axis. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26  with a digital display disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The device as in any of  claims 26-31  further comprising: A first bubble level secured to the housing, the first bubble level having a centerline parallel the bottom housing surface and parallel to one of the housing side walls. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32  further comprising a second bubble level secured to the housing orthogonally to the first bubble level. 
     
     
         34 . The device as in any of  claims 26-31  wherein a metal plate is disposed at the second side of the compound pair of magnets. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34  further comprising a first bubble level secured to the housing, the first bubble level having a centerline parallel the bottom housing surface and parallel to one of the housing side walls. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35  further comprising a second bubble level secured to the housing orthogonally to the first bubble level. 
     
     
         37 . A device comprising:
 a. a housing having top, bottom, and side walls, the bottom wall having a substantially planar bottom surface.   b. one or more dipole magnets disposed in the bottom surface;   c. a sensor disposed in the device housing; and   d. a circuit operatively connected to the sensor for processing an output of the sensor.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37  where the sensor is a differential capacitive stud sensor. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 37  where the sensor is a live electrical wire sensor. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 37  further comprising a digital display disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the circuit for displaying the output of the sensor as processed by the circuit. 
     
     
         41 . The device as in any of  claims 37-40  further comprising a first bubble level secured to the housing, the first bubble level having a centerline parallel the bottom housing surface and parallel to one of the housing side walls. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41  further comprising a second bubble level secured to the housing orthogonally to the first bubble level. 
     
     
         43 . A device comprising:
 a. a housing having top, bottom, and side walls, the bottom wall having a substantially planar bottom surface;   b. one or more dipole magnets disposed in the bottom surface;   c. a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, the barrel pivotally mounted near its proximal end to the device housing for pivotal movement in relation to the housing; and   d. a laser disposed within the barrel, the laser creating, when activated, a laser beam projecting through the distal end of the barrel.   
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43  further comprising a stop disposed in the device housing positioned to stop the pivoting of the barrel at a predefined position such that when activated, the laser beam intersects a plane defined by the planar bottom surface. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44  wherein the laser beam intersects the plane defined by the planar bottom surface at a predetermined distance from the housing. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45  where in the predetermined distance is between 15 and 17 inches. 
     
     
         47 . The device as in any of  claims 43-46  wherein the laser beam is selected from the group consisting of a cross beam, a line beam, and a dot beam. 
     
     
         48 . The device as in any of  claims 43-46  further comprising a first bubble level secured to the housing, the first bubble level having a centerline parallel the bottom housing surface and parallel to one of the housing side walls. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 48  further comprising a second bubble level secured to the housing orthogonally to the first bubble level. 
     
     
         50 . The device as in any of  claim 1, 10, 24, 37, or 43  further comprising a marking surface disposed on the housing, the marking surface having one or with one or more marking guides located a predetermined distance from the center of the compound pair of magnets. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the predetermined distance is between 0.74 inches and 0.76 inches from the center of the compound pair of magnets. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the predetermined distance is between 1.4 inches and 1.6 inches from the center of the compound pair of magnets.